Hello there. If you're reading this, consider yourself one of the luckiest souls on Rancor, for you’ve been blessed by fate. This is the story of Anaam, the Overlord, the Saviour of Rancor, and the Eternal King of the Radiant Empire.

I know, I know—the titles might sound like I’m bragging. But I’m not. These are the names given to me by the people of the Radiant Empire, and indeed by most of the sentient beings on this planet. They call me these things out of respect, reverence even, and they do so of their own free will. And to be honest, I enjoy the admiration I see in their eyes. I’ve earned it, to some extent. After all, I’ve worked harder than most, shed blood and sweat, and lost more than I care to recount. If I didn’t take some pride in it, I’d be belittling the sacrifices I’ve made—and those made by others who supported me along the way.

But I digress. Let me properly introduce myself and explain why we’re here.

As you’ve probably guessed, my name is Anaam. I was left at the steps of a small temple dedicated to the god Manarq when I was just a day old, found in a basket with nothing but a blanket. The priests who took me in were kind enough to raise me, though they could never agree on what to name me. They debated for days, each one suggesting a different name, until finally the head priest—exhausted by the bickering—named me Anaam, which means “the nameless one.” It seemed fitting, given how long they’d spent calling me exactly that during their endless discussions.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Now that you know how I got my name, let’s move on to why you’re here. I’m telling you my story, in the hopes that someday—when I’m long gone—this account will offer guidance in understanding the darkness that still haunts our world. Perhaps you, dear reader, are destined to be the next Overlord and Saviour of Rancor. Or maybe, this tale will simply become a collection of bedtime stories used to scare children into behaving. Frankly, I’d prefer the latter, because it would mean Rancor is at peace.

The planet of Rancor has four massive continents, each so vast that it would take years to traverse from one end to the other—let alone travel between them. There’s only one ocean, a crimson expanse that surrounds the continents like islands in a sea of blood. The water itself is clear, but the sky above is permanently crimson, casting a red hue over everything. This eerie sky is due to the unique nature of our sun and the mana particles that fill our atmosphere.

Everything on Rancor—every animate and inanimate object, every living soul—has mana. It’s an essential part of our existence. No one has ever been born without it, and no one ever will, for mana is woven into the very atoms and molecules that make up our world.

But enough about mana for now. I will tell you more as we continue. After all, this is just the beginning.